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Ortiz passes Rice on Red Sox homer list

5/14/14: David Ortiz crushes a solo shot to right field, moving ahead of Jim Rice for the third most Red Sox home runs with 383

By Ian Browne and Teddy Cahill
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MLB.com |

MINNEAPOLIS -- With the Red Sox still trying to find that elusive groove, star slugger David Ortiz has found his.

The designated hitter went deep again on Wednesday night, launching home run No. 383 in a Boston uniform. That moved him past Hall of Famer Jim Rice and into sole possession of third place on the club's all-time list.

Ortiz hit another solo homer in the game and ended up going 3-for-5 in the 9-4 victory over the Twins.

Big Papi roped two home runs on Tuesday as part of a 4-for-5, four-RBI performance.

Ortiz came out of the gate swinging on Wednesday, crushing a double to the gap in right-center in his first at-bat and ripping a solo homer in the top of the third. In his eight games prior to Wednesday, Ortiz had a .452 average.

Not only is Ortiz belting the baseball, but he is exuding some swagger.

"It speaks to the way he feels in the box right now," said manager John Farrell. "Even the first pitch he saw, he fouls a fastball straight back. It was interesting listening to his comments before his first at-bat unfolded as he was watching Dustin Pedroia's at-bat unfold. He's in a pretty good place, obviously. As the weather has warmed, David has warmed, and that exudes confidence regardless of what pitch he's addressing inside an at-bat."

Everyone knows that when Ortiz is hot, he is capable of carrying the offense.

"What can I tell you? I've got to stick with the plan. We face the best of the best coming out of everybody and in my case I just have to patient," said Ortiz. "I told you, the weather get hot, Papi gets hot."

Speaking of Ortiz, he gained a hit before getting to the ballpark on Wednesday as his bloop against Yu Darvish in the seventh inning on Friday night -- initially ruled an error on Alex Rios -- was reversed.

"I think it was a hit in the moment," said Farrell. "Upon further review, obviously, they change it. I think in the end, the right call has been had."